SPECIAL NEEDS - Building Marine Structures

Concrete structures in the tide or splash zones are especially vulnerable to aging.
The fluctuating moisture levels aggressively introduce contaminants such as chlorides and sulphates into the matrix of the concrete. These contaminants react within the concrete, accelerating the concrete aging process and actively driving rebar corrosion.
If the concrete is made less permeable, these contaminants will have less opportunity to enter, and the deteriorative processes will be greatly reduced.
Catalytic hydrogel treatments are the effective way to reduce permeability of the concrete.
The hydrogel seals the porosity of the concrete, immobilizing moisture and resisting the ingress of contaminants.
The catalyst can be introduced as an admixture or spray applied, or for best results a combination of both.
The treatment can be used in both pre-cast and in-situ poured elements.
Markham hydrogel treatments are ideal for marine structures, as the process is hydrophilic, and is therefore not adversely affected by the constant moisture of the harsh environment.
The treatment penetrates deep into the concrete, and cannot be worn or chipped away from the surface.
Because of these advantages, hydrogel treatments are significantly more effective over the long term than mere coatings.
Introducing the hydrogel proactively at the outset of the structure's life, will extend the structure's prime condition and potentially reduce the long-term maintenance costs.
http://markhamglobal.com.au/australian-projects/build_marine